UFC seen as success in Vancouver

Mixed martial arts organizers say they plan to come back to Vancouver after the city saw its first Ultimate Fighting Championship event Saturday.

Tom Wright, director of UFC operations in Canada, says organizers plan to bring the event back to Vancouver. (CBC)

The controversial event received approval from city council in April after nearly two years of negotiations.

An estimated 18,000 fans packed GM Place in downtown Vancouver for the event. Tickets had sold out in just half an hour.

The mixed martial arts event, the first to take place in B.C., featured a number of athletes fighting inside an octagonal cage.

"We're very confident that we will be back here," said Tom Wright, the new director of UFC operations in Canada.

"We've made a commitment, long term, and we want to have at least three of our global pay-per-view events in Canada on an annual basis. We're also going to bring our UFC Fight Nights to smaller communities across the country."

There was a heavy police presence at the event, but no major problems were reported.